Structure

The short story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie has a non-chronological structure and follows the main characters on a journey to Phoenix, Arizona, and back. 

The beginning of the story introduces one of the main characters, Victor, and foreshadows the inner conflict that he has regarding his father’s abandonment of the family:

Just after Victor lost his job at the BIA, he also found out that his father had died of a heart attack in Phoenix, Arizona. Victor hadn't seen his father in a few years, only talked to him on the telephone once or twice, but there still was a genetic pain, which was soon to be pain as real and immediate as a broken bone. (p. 1, ll. 1-4)

Here, the text hints that Victor is a troubled young man for whom the situation of losing his job has been aggravated by losing his est...